Telling and saving

"MARIA, MARIA" shouted Liesl through the Von Trapp house, the family had just sat down for breakfast when they heard Liesl voice.

Georg and the children leapt from their seats to go to Liesl, leaving now two people in the room, who knew what it was all about, Alfred looked across at his wife in disgust, he knew she went too far last night, which was why they had an argument over it, not being able to get through to his wife, he found himself, sleeping in one of the spare room down the hall, not wanting to be anywhere near her. Elizabeth looked up towards him, with the look of guilt and worry in her eyes but keeping her face firm; she lowered her gaze with a shrug of the shoulders and carried on eating, as if it will all right itself.

As Georg and the children got to the foyer, Liesl was already halfway down the stairs still shouting to get someones attention; it did, raising Max and Elsa from their beds and the staff to also wonder what all the commotion was about. Liesl still shouting "she's gone, father, she's gone, all her things, everything," now in tears and her father holding her trying to calm her down, asking who, and when she said "Maria",pain went all though his body. He knew he should have gone to her last night after, he spoke with Liesl, to check on her, but it being late he thought she needed her sleep, he never thought she would leave, at least not without saying goodbye to the children, he thought he would have had a chance to talk with her this morning; it also crossed his mind now, that she didn't feel the same about him. Still holding Liesl in his arms, Max spoke, "Georg", Georg answered with a "not now Max" now guiding Liesl to go into the dining room.

Max; "Georg you need to know, why Maria left last night" Georg turned towards Max with a face of anger, "you knew she's gone" Liesl now looking up towards Max with her face stain in tears. "Yes" said max. "and you never even thought to come and tell me" he was now standing in front of Max's face, Elsa came forward trying to calm him but it was no use, as soon as she interrupted, Georg knew she had known too. He started to shout at both of them, until Max was able to shout back at him "you should go and ask your mother, about Maria leaving". This instantly caught Georg's attention, and with one look towards the dinning room, he headed for it, being followed by his children; friends and staff staying outside the room, knowing they had no right to walk in at this moment, but also wanting to know about Maria, and to see if Georg finally lost his temper with his mother.

As Georg entered he stopped at the head of the table, with everyone standing behind him, he stood staring straight at his mother for a moment, until he spoke;

Georg; "Mother" sounding firm, but also with the hurt and anger in his voice, she never moved, never said a word, just carried on eating. Georg started to move towards her very slow, speaking again

Georg; "Mother, I'm going to ask you this once, and I want an answer from you right now, where is Maria"? No answer came, which made Georg even angrier, she was just about to take a bite of her jammed toast, when Georg snapped, picking up the plate in front of her and slamming it at the far end of the wall. Every one now watching, even Alfred didn't step in this time, he knew this was what Elizabeth needed, to have someone to finally stand up to her once and for all, and who better than her own son. Getting her attention, she stood and looked Georg straight in the eye,

Elizabeth; "How dare you treat me this way, your own mother?" snapping back.

Georg; "Now I have your attention, answer my question" Now in a low but firm voice.

Elizabeth "well… it's how you can see it, she gone, she left last night." said avoiding why she left.

Georg; "I can see that, but why?" he asked

Elizabeth "does it matter?" answering him back

Georg; "of course it matters, I want to know why she left, and you have something to do with it" now gritting his teeth.

Elizabeth; " Me, ah… don't be silly Georg" not being able to think what to say, all her life she had been able to talk her way out of everything, but not this time.

Georg; "you said something to her last night, to make her leave now… what was it?" demanding to know.

Elizabeth; "I asked her to leave, after upsetting Liesl the way she did, I believe it was for the best" Georg looked at her wide eyed and before he started to shout like he did at Max, Liesl came to stand by her father, but talking towards her grandmother, also angry; for her grandmother to use her as the excuse.

Liesl "Me, you sent her away because she upset me, oh no gran, it was you, you and grandfather for what you've done, to father, to us and most of all to Maria"

Elizabeth; "ah Maria" with a laugh.

Liesl "yes Maria, my friend, a sister, and most of all… a mother to me"

This shut Elizabeth up, Georg put an arm around Liesl's shoulders, to show he stood by what she said, and asked his mother one last time.

Georg; "Now… where is she?"

Alfred; "I think she's gone back to the farm Georg, that's where your mother told her to return to" standing from his seat and looking Elizabeth square in the eye. This put a worried sick look on Liesl's face

Liesl; "oh no" she cried out.

Georg "Liesl, what is it" turning towards his daughter.

Liesl "father, I promised not to tell, but I can't'… I can't not say anything… knowing that…what she already been through"

Georg; "Liesl what are you talking about"

Liesl; "her family… her uncle, her cousin there… they're violent towards her, she told me this, one night when we were having our talks"

Alfred; "Liesl are you sure about this? Hans has a good reputation for looking after his family and treating them the best he possible could" now coming around the side of the table, where Georg, Liesl and Elizabeth were all standing.

Liesl answered with a nod, still not knowing how to address her grandfather after last night.

Elizabeth, "ah rubbish" trying to make out that Maria was now a liar.

Liesl; "if it's such rubbish, then why would she cry herself to sleep, shaking, when she told me all this?" Georg took it all in, he always knew Maria had a secret, over the weeks of getting to know one another she held something back, she talked about her parents for what she could remember, but if he ever asked about her life at the farm, she would change the subject quickly, as if it scared her to say something she shouldn't, now he was worried.

He turned to his father to ask where the farm was, who answered with a, "I'll show you". Both men now walking towards the door, to leave the dining room, Max jumping in saying "give me five minutes to get dressed, I'm coming with you", Georg answer him "we haven't got the time, were leaving now"

In the meantime, it all started downing on Elizabeth. Why Maria was happy being here, she could understand the girl now, being with this family, after what has been happening to her. No one just gets on with things so easily, not when they are put in a position like Maria was.

Elizabeth; "oh my God, I didn't know" she caught their attention before they left the room all turning back towards her.

Georg "as for… I don't want you here when I get back" turning towards Elizabeth

Elizabeth; Georg please, I … didn't know, really I didn't" now running after him and following him into the foyer, along with everyone else.

Georg; "I don't care, I don't want your excuses, what you did to that woman at the beginning was out of line, but to treat her the way you did in this house… my house… you'd gone too far, now pack your things and get out of my house, and don't step your foot near here again". With that he headed for the door, being followed by his father, and Max who was still wearing his spotty red night clothes and a green morning gown.

Maria woke to the sound of a voice she knew too well and cringed at it. After she returned from the villa she headed to the farm, not having anywhere else to go, she feel asleep in the barn, not wanting to wake anyone after it being so late. It was her cousin Danny.

Danny; "well, well, well, what do we have here" lifting her of the floor that was covered in hay, she needed time to adjust to her surroundings and when she did, she finally spoke

Maria; "Danny, I er… I must have fallen asleep"

Danny; "What are you doing here anyhow, you should be down at that new fancy house… my dad told me about it, don't tell me, the future husband got tired of you already" still holding his grip on her upper arms

Maria "no, it… it isn't like that, I just aren't needed anymore"

Danny; "ah, so he did get tired of you, can't say I blame him, wait till my father knows you're back" now dragging her from the barn.

Maria; "wait, please, let go of me, I can go myself" Maria now trying to get out from his grip, Danny dragged her up to the house. Before she knew it she was dragged through the door, and placed in front of her uncle and aunt.

They took one look at Maria wondering what was going on, Maria noticed nothing had changed, her aunt was still going through the wars, but this time the signs were visible on her face.

Aderline: "Maria" looking at her, with a questioning look of what she was doing here.

Hans; "what you are doing here" shocked to see her back.

Maria; "I've… been sent… back" she stammered

Danny; "he got bored of her" with a huge grin on his face and laughing.

Hans; "sent you back" rising from his chair, and now walking towards her, and standing right in front of her face.

Maria; "yes, I'm not…. needed anymore" not knowing of what to answer him.

Hans; "what do you mean not needed, wait a minute… if they think they are having their money back, they must be mistaken. They are not having you for weeks on end, doing what they want with you, then sending you back here.

Maria; "well… the baroness wants it back, she told me to tell you before I left last night" starting to shake

Hans; "what have you done?" sounding nasty.

Maria; "nothing I only, I...I" stammering.

Hans: "well?" demanding to no.

Maria; "I… upset one of the children… last night, I was told to leave" lowering her head in shame.

Aderline; "Maria that's not like you, you love children" but was silenced by a look from Hans.

Hans; "what did you do" he spat in her face

Maria "I told the eldest, the truth… about you selling me" shaking and knew what was coming.

Hans "you did what?" and with that a hand came straight to Maria's face knocking her to the wall, where she steadied herself for the next blows to come at her.

Georg drove as fast as he never had in his life up the roads and threw the lanes to the farm, as he pulled up outside, he could hear the screaming coming from the house, it was a woman's voice shouting "stop it, you will kill her". He wasted no time, getting out of the car and bounded into the house, followed by his father and Max.

Up on entering the farm house, the first thing Georg saw was Aderline screaming and being held back by Danny, Georg looked past them and saw Hans bent over and beating Maria who was lying on the floor curled up, trying to protect herself. Georg quickly passed Aderline and Danny and went towards Hans. With one kick to Hans face he sent Hans flying across the room, away from Maria, as Georg was just about to check on her, Hans came at him with his fist, but Georg was ready and that now put both men into a fight. Meanwhile Danny, seeing this, let go of Aderline, and went to help his father, but Max grabbed him from behind. Danny turned quickly swinging his fist at Max and belted him in the nose, knocking Max off balance, Alfred then swung a punch, that caused Danny to fall to the floor, and giving him a look not to get up. As soon as Aderline was let go of, she ran to where Maria was lying, scooping her up in her arms, crying how sorry she was that she let Hans do any of this to her.

The fight was coming to an end when Georg, gave Hans one quick punch, knocking Hans out. As soon as he knew he wouldn't get up, her turned to where he left Maria, what he saw now brought tears to his eyes, he couldn't bear to see her like this, she was badly hurt and he blamed himself for it. He walked over to them and knelt on the floor beside the two women; he looked at Aderline and could see she too had been beaten, but not today. Georg made a move to take Maria from Aderline's arms, Aderline looked up, to see it was Georg. As Georg moved Maria he heard her whimp in pain. He thanked god she was still alive, but needed a doctor and quick. Georg rose gently with Maria still in his arms careful not to hurt her, but as hard as she tried he could hear her soft whimpers. He headed for the door, saying he needed to get her to the doctor and quick. Max turned to him, holding his now broken nose and said "what about these two", pointing towards the men. He answered him quickly, "I don't care, Maria is my concern at the moment" and with that he walked out of the house carrying Maria to the car.

Alfred helped Georg in to the back of the car, and jumped in the driver's seat, Max was just getting into the passenger side, as Aderline came running out of the house begging to go with them, and that she wanted to be with Maria, making sure she will be alright. Georg agreed; Aderline jumped into the car, the side of Max. Alfred started the car and drove to the hospital as quickly as he could.

THANK YOU ALL FOR MY REVIEWS TO THE LAST CHAPTER.

I ALSO LIKE TO THANK MY PEN PAL, AUGUZZTE,

WHO HAS BEEN SO KIND TO GO OVER MY CHAPTERS HERE ON IN AND CHECK THEM, BEFORE I PUBLISH,

SO THANK YOU. :) :) :) :)

I HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THIS ONE: :) :)